Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries
Satan's offensive strategy is directed entirely toward the volition of mankind, and especially toward believers. Part 20.
Friday, November 1, 2002
As a part of the angelic conflict, Gods plan is to magnify His grace forever before angels and humanity.
In human history, the sovereignty of God and free will of man coexist by divine decree because human history is an extension of the prehistoric angelic conflict.
Since mankind was created in history to resolve the prehistoric angelic conflict, Satan attacks at the weak point - the volition of mankind.
The greatest attack on human volition occurred in the dispensation of the hypostatic union against the humanity of Christ.
HEB 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.
Satans offensive began in the prehistoric angelic conflict when Satan revolted against God with a thought - “I will be like the most high God.”
The result of his thought indicates that Satan has the greatest of all creature power, REV 12:3-4.
MAT 25:41 “depart from me you who have been condemned into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.”
ISA 5:14 - Sheol or Hades had to be enlarged to accommodate members of the human race who have rejected Christ as Savior.
Originally Satan was already judged and condemned before the creation of the human race.
Satans offensive strategy is directed entirely toward the volition of mankind, and especially toward believers.
At the point of the Gospel, Satan attacks to obscure the content of the Gospel and to corrupt faith in Christ alone for eternal salvation.
2CO 4:3-4 but if our gospel has been veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the thinking of those who are unbelievers, -
that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
Another attack on the Gospel is salvation by works or faith plus something.
GAL 2:16 Knowing that a person is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Christ Jesus...for by the works of the law no flesh will be justified.
ROM 3:28 “For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law.”
EPH 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.
Satan attacks the volition or the free will of the believer to reject doctrine.
This is accomplished through false doctrine, legalism, distraction, emotionalism, a false scale of values, and many other ways.
“If the devil and his angels have already been sentenced to the lake of fire then why does God allow them to be free today?”
His hope and plan is to get mankind to attack the character and nature of God as a third party in the conflict.
His hope and plan is to get mankind to attack the character and nature of God as a third party in the conflict.
The oldest book in the Bible is the book of Job, written in Archaic Hebrew.
The very first book that God gave man starts out with a scene in the courtroom of heaven and the angelic conflict and a man being entered into evidence testing.
ISA 43:21 “The people whom I formed for Myself, Will declare My praise.”
ISA 43:7 “Everyone who is called by My name, I have created for My glory,”
“Blameless” = he was a spiritually mature believer. “Upright” = his victories in spiritual growth. “Fearing God” or respecting God = personal love for TLJC. “He turned away from evil” = grace orientation.
Satan always started the courtroom session by making it clear that while God had put Adam in charge of the world as its ruler, Satan had recovered it.
GEN 1:1-2 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And the earth became formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep;
GEN 1:2b “And the Spirit of God began to move over the surface of the waters.”
Mans occupancy on planet earth did not last too long before Adam and the woman fell and then Satan became the ruler of the world again.
Arrogance is unteachable!
REV 20:7-8 And when the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, -
Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore.
With the statement “Have you considered my servant Job,” Job is now entered as a witness for God in the historic appeal trial of Satan and the fallen angels.
EZE 14:14, 20 - Job, Noah and Daniel represent three of the greatest believers of ancient history.
He is not sinless, but one thing about a mature believer, he stays away from evil.
Why in the world would God ever turn over to Satan the greatest believer alive if there was no angelic conflict?
In verse 6, there is a courtroom in heaven, the Supreme Court of Heaven.
In verse 7, Satan acts as a defense attorney.
In verse 8, Job is entered into the courtroom as a witness for the prosecution.
In verses 9 and 10, we have Satans defense against God, accusing Job.
Satans contention is that if God removes Jobs escrow blessings and cuts off His logistical grace support, Job will curse God.
In verse 11, the motion of the defense - “Put forth Thy hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse Thee to Thy face.”
In verse 12, the motion is granted - “All that he has is in your power, only do not put forth your hand on him.”
Robert R. McLaughlin All Rights Reserved 2002